Game



G. W. PERKS Dec. 21, 1937.

GAME

Filed April 24, 1956 INVENTOR GeorgeW'. Pavks ATTO RN EY Patented Dec.21, 1937 UNHTED n'rsr orr cs 1 Claim.

This invention relates to games of amusement and it has particularrelation to games in which the players choose variously distinguishableballs, after which the balls are rearranged by such 5 means that theresult cannot bedetermined in advance.

One object of the invention is to provide a I game of the abovementioned character which is compact and which may be manufacturedeconomically.

Another object is to provide a game which because of its simplicity iseasily and quickly operated.

A further object is to provide a means whereby 15 at the end of eachcourse the balls are in position to start on the succeeding course, thusmaking it possible to play the game with greater rapidity thanheretofore.

A still further object is to provide a game ap- 20 paratus of thischaracter in which the progress of the balls may be seen at all times.

Other objects will be seenfrom the following brief description of theapparatus in connection with the accompanying drawing thereof.

25 Of the accompanying drawing:

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus as used and embodyingthe invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

80, Referring to the drawing, I is a base member upon which is hingedlymounted a pair of upright supports H, II. Rotatably or invertiblymounted at I Ia between the supports H, M is a receptacle I2. Thesupports may be held in upright 36 position by means of a suitablereleasable locking brace 53.

The receptacle l2 in its preferred form comprises a frame structure it,having suitable grooved recesses I5, it as shown in Figure 2 40 aroundits inner faces to receive the outer margins of a pair of oppositelydisposed walls I'I, I8, which walls may be made of transparent material,such as glass or celluloid.

On the inner faces of two oppositely disposed 45 sides I9, 2! of theframe structure It are mounted baflie elements 2!, 22 slightly narrowerin width than the space between the walls IT, IS and comprising a seriesof variously shaped undulatory projections in oppositely staggered re-50 lation as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, whereby the balls maytrickle down through the receptacle, over and between the baflies.

Loosely disposed within the receptacle l2, and normally resting in a rowat the bottom thereof,

65 is a series of distinguishable balls or similar game elements 23, 23,said balls being slightly smaller in diameter than the distance betweenthe walls I I and I8.

Indicators, such as the arrows 24 may be applied on each side of theframe structure I4, but at opposite ends thereof, for the purpose ofindicating the winning ball in either position 01 the frame.

A portion of the frame structure M, indicated at 25, and secured to legsI9 and 20 by means of 1 screws 26, 26, may be removed to facilitatereplacement or alteration of any of theelements within the receptacleI2.

The base member it may have its upper face marked off in a series ofdistinguishable squares 2t, 21, corresponding to the distinguishablefeatures of the balls 23, 23. For example, the balls 23 may be ofvarious colors and the squares 21 may be of corresponding colors.

In the operation of the game each player selects a ball by placing atoken on one of the squares 21, corresponding to the distinguishingcharacteristic of the ball selected. Next the receptacle I2 is inverted,allowing the balls to trickle by gravity over and. between the baflie 25elements 2!, 22 and thus become so rearranged that it is impossible toforetell the exact order which the balls will take until they come torest at the bottom of the receptacle. The player having selected theball indicated by the arrow wins. It is readily seen that this operationmay be repeated in a quick succession of rapid inversions of thereceptacle I2. I

When not in use the apparatus may be folded compactly by releasing thebrace I3.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the apparatusdescribed provides a new and simple device for amusement. It provides agame which may be cheaply manufactured and shipped and which is easy tooperate. Every operation 40 places the balls in playing position foreach succeeding inversion of the receptacle and at no time can the orderof the balls at the end of the course through the bafile elements beforetold.

The game may be used for various purposes as for example to determine bychance the rate of various movements of game pieces over various gameboards, like for example to move game pieces in simulation of racehorses over a game board device in simulation of a racing course,

etc.

Modification may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A game apparatus, comprising a supporting i5 receptacle is invertedwhereby the 'balls will trickle by gravity down over and between thebaiiles from one end of said frame to the other, said bafiles being soarranged that said balls trickle down through the receptacle over andbetween the baffles to various uncertain orders or successions acrossthe ends of receptacle upon inversions of the receptacle, the ends ofthe receptacle being substantially smooth and unbroken to permit theballs to roll freely over the ends of the receptacle and to tumble overeach other to various orders of succession across an end of thereceptacle after each inversion of the receptacle.

GEORGE W. PERKS.

